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The beach, the dance floor, and the open road are out of the question for many youthful fun-seekers this summer, but Boiz brings a vibrant and breezy debut album when we need it most. After a string of scattered singles, the band creates a focused album of retro synth-pop centered on strong grooves and glossy sophistication.

It’s summer love, or at least the dream of it. In the love-struck Platinum Star, Giovanni Hernandez sings lines like, “keep your flaws to yourself,” and “I love a girl who loves herself.” It’s the escapism of quixotic romance that drives this album. It’s also reflected in the instrumentation too. The interstellar introduction, sweet synth stabs, and purring funk bass are the stuff of daydreams.

Other concepts and sounds get explored too, such as passive aggression in the assertive Sorry, and delusions of grandeur in the bubbly High Fashion. The jolting snare rolls and sleek guitar solo in Hope add zing to an already reliable pop formula. The chorus of Spring Flower is an intense rush of windy synths and arpeggios that create one of the most memorable moments of the album. The sparse drum and synth programming on Out of My Mind give way to dramatic vocal layers, then neatly closes on hand claps and a sing-along.

It’s all tied together by the boyish vocals. It has strength and precision of modern pop, and sometimes anguish and inflections of 2000’s emo-pop. Hernandez’s control and portamento ability give the melodies more distinction, while the call-and-response techniques and extravagant vocal stacking fill the air.

In its entirety, it can sound secondhand, but nostalgia is never used as a crutch. All the familiar pieces fit seamlessly, and accessorize a solidly-written album. With tight hooks and lavish production, these Boiz are wise beyond their years.

Score: 8/10

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